‘Nothing’s happened. It seems the Miyas had made out an affidavit regarding the sale of the land. Although Salaam Miya was reluctant at first, he is agreeable now. But that girl Riziya is there! Apparently, she is not willing to sell off the land. Rafiq Ali thinks that she will come around if you speak to her. That’s why he came here.’
‘Why would she do that?’
‘That’s what I said too. Listen, son, please don’t get involved in any trouble. But see whether the girl agrees. After all, Rafiq is related to us in a way through marriage. When he’s requesting you so much…’
Nasir Sheikh left Maruf’s room. Maruf pondered over the matter. Rafiq Ali had come to meet him! He laughed inwardly. The cat never climbed a tree unless it was chased! He disliked Rafiq Ali on ethical grounds. There had been heated arguments in public between them on several matters. So he wondered why Rafiq had come to him of all people. Political leaders did not strike merely a single bird with a stone. There was certainly some other reason as well for wanting to meet him. To know how much support he commanded. Maruf realized that. This was the same Rafiq Ali Sheikh who had won the elections five years ago after making hundreds of promises. Chhappa Haji’s prowess was responsible for that, though. But after becoming the deputy chief of the Panchayat, Rafiq Ali simply had no time for anyone. And this time, he would glorify democracy by buying people’s votes once again. He would win again with threats and intimidation. Maruf was determined that this could not be allowed to happen. He had to see to it that Rafiq was not given the party ticket. Maruf deemed that to be his moral duty. In a moment of self-realization, he felt as if his conscience had heard Bilal call out the azan. It wouldn’t do if it were he alone who heard this call, he had to make the people at large hear it too. He had to make the sound echo in their ears. Once the hearts of the exploited and excluded folk began to hear Bilal’s call, the dam would burst. They would be emboldened to speak the truth notwithstanding any worldly binding. They would clearly envision a dream for a better future.
Iqbal Ostagar had convened the meeting. One by one, a handful of people had gathered in his house. It wasn’t so late at night yet. Maruf received them and asked them to be seated. Maruf’s friend, Farid, and Iqbal Ostagar, had invited them. There must be some special reason for sure. But nothing had been explained clearly! What was it about? Everyone was full of curiosity. There were about ten people in all. Iqbal Ostagar sat at a distance from Haidar Ali, who was a Tablighi man. But Haidar had accompanied Farid. Only those who were somewhat close to Maruf had been handpicked. They sat together in a circle. The muezzin, Rahmat Bhai, next to him Nazir Ali, Hasmat Chacha, Haidar and Terpol Haji and so on. Hasmat Chacha enquired, ‘Can you tell me what this is about? I don’t quite understand, Iqbal Bhai!’
Gesturing to them to remain seated, Iqbal Ostagar replied in a reassuring tone, ‘It’s important, or else why would I call you at such short notice? Sit down, sit down. I’ve asked for tea. We’ll talk over tea.’
As Maqsood Lashkar removed his cap and placed it beside him, he declared, ‘I’m Terpol Haji, no lie ever emits my mouth. But I’m guessing something. Is it about some scam or scandal? Has someone got caught? Why don’t you tell us clearly? What’s the problem? What’s happened, eh?’
Farid could not control himself. He began to laugh. And then he said, ‘No, my dear, it’s not about anyone getting caught. The thing is, the Panchayat elections are due soon. So what do you all think?’
Perhaps Rahmat Bhai thought it was something urgent. He had left without finishing his dinner when he got the news that Maruf had called him. He had a special regard for Maruf. But when he heard mention of the elections, he seemed to be disheartened. ‘Elections will take place. We will all vote. What’s there to think about it? Where was the need to call us?’
Maruf found the cue to begin now. He looked at the people in the gathering. He smiled a little. He exchanged greetings with everyone. And then, turning to Rahmat Bhai, he said, ‘How much longer, Rahmat Bhai? How much longer will you go on voting without thinking, without understanding anything? Don’t you have to learn to understand the value of your vote? Will you simply accept whatever some party tells you?’
Haidar Ali carried a tasbeeh, or a set of prayer beads, in his hand. He silently uttered the names of Allah all through the day. He was an authentic Tablighi Jamaat man who had participated in three chillas. His relations with Iqbal Ostagar were strained. So he wasn’t able to speak freely since he was in his house. Maruf was not unaware of that. He signalled to Iqbal Ostagar. Iqbal got the message. He proffered Haidar a cup of tea. He conveyed a message of love through a gracious smile.
Responding to his smile, Haidar Ali asked, ‘But none of us are involved in politics. So what’s the meaning of this, Iqbal Bhai? What exactly do you have in mind?’
‘To topple them!’ Farid exclaimed. And then he started explaining the matter in detail. ‘We got Rafiq to stand, with a lot of hope. But tell me, what have you got in these five years? We want to try to ensure that Rafiq does not get the party ticket this time.’
‘But what will come of that, Farid? Is there any point? Rafiq will be left out, and some Safiq will take his place. He, too, could be another bastard. Besides, we are just ordinary folk. Do you think we can decide who’ll stand and who won’t? There’s still a lot of time left for the elections. All we can do is vote, isn’t it?’
Addressing everyone, Iqbal Ostagar now said, ‘If we have a good man instead of that kind of bastard, will you support him?’
Everyone responded as one. ‘Of course, we will! But where will we find such a person?’
Nazir stood up. He said with enthusiasm, ‘I know only one person in Sadnahati who is both good and courageous. He stands by the poor. Do you know who he is?’
Everyone looked askance at one another. Was he going to propose the name of his cousin, Kalim Mirza? But he was like a faulty tube light now. Would it ever come alight? No, Nazir didn’t propose his name. Pointing to Maruf, who was seated in front of him, he said, ‘Our Maruf Bhai!’
Without a moment’s hesitation, Rahmat Bhai welcomed the suggestion. Maruf himself was a bit embarrassed by that. He protested mildly, saying, ‘No, Nazir’s exaggerating. I’m wondering how it will be if Iqbal Ostagar stands.’
But Iqbal Ostagar paid no heed to what he said. He asked Haji Maqsood and Haidar Ali for their opinions. They thought for a moment and expressed their support for Maruf.
In sum, it was decided in the meeting that Rafiq ought not to be the candidate; it needed to be someone else this time. If necessary, Maruf Sheikh was available. This was not a meeting of any political party. Nor was it the meeting of any organization. But nevertheless, Maruf had been able to create a consensus among all those present. The crown for the success, however, was deftly placed on Iqbal Ostagar’s head. He had never been involved in his life in any particular endeavours for the community. Iqbal was unaware that standing by people in times of distress and calamity brought a sense of contentment. The presence of all these people in his house for a discussion on a community matter imbued him with a sense of confidence. Farid expressed eloquently the role of Iqbal Ostagar in what the meeting had accomplished. It was his enthusiasm that had led to the meeting today. Iqbal’s chest swelled with pride as he heard that. He vowed that the Panchayat elections this time would be different. He would provide the money that was required. But no one could retreat now.
Riziya was sitting in Maruf’s room. His sister Amina was her friend. Maruf had sent word for her to come. But he himself was absent. The two friends were chatting. When they heard the sound of Maruf approaching, they became silent. Seeing Riziya there, Maruf said, ‘You’re here!’
‘Yes. What’s the matter, Chhot Da?’
‘I wanted to speak to you regarding your family’s land.’
‘What happened?’
‘Rafiq Ali Sheikh wants to buy it.’
‘I know that! He had come to meet me. I won’t sell that land,
Chhot Da.’
‘Why not? What’s the problem?’
‘You know everything. But I have other plans. I need the land. That’s why I told him that I am not selling it.’
‘Hmm. I don’t want the land to be sold either. But there’ll be a lot of problems, Riziya! Will you be able to handle that?’
Riziya was silent. Didn’t she know! Hadn’t it begun already? Boro Mami had quarrelled with Chhoto Mami yesterday. Boro Mami was of the view that it was Chhoto Mami who was actually behind it, that the wicked woman had forbidden Riziya to sell it, although she knew nothing about the matter and was not wicked either. Raqib and Rahman Da had threatened her quite a few times. They had said, ‘Look at the arrogance of this chit of a girl!’ For that matter, even Fulsura, who had come to her father’s house for the first time from her father-in-law’s house, hadn’t met her at all. Riziya was under psychological pressure. It was as if they wanted to subject her to social boycott. Of course, she kept these things to herself, she didn’t tell Maruf. She only said softly, ‘If I have problems, you people are there after all, Chhot Da. Let’s see what happens!’
‘Rafiq Ali met me. He thinks that if I speak to you, you’ll agree to sell the land.’
‘So what do you advise me to do?’
‘No. Don’t sell the land. That’s my opinion too. But you can’t change your mind later.’
Once Maruf left the room, Amina stirred. She said to Riziya, ‘I’m terribly jealous of you, Riziya! Where do you get so much strength from?’
‘I don’t know. But I’m the one who should be jealous of you. Not because you are a wealthy man’s daughter. You’ve got an angel of a brother. You got the love of your father and mother. All that!’
‘Mother?’
Riziya fell silent. After all, Amina was also motherless. She then said, ‘Do you know where I get the strength from? From the firmness of my convictions. From my inner resolve.’
